Mellanby Deal Looks Unlikely

Carolina's Hill May Sign Today

July 15, 2004|By Patrick Lammer and Michael Russo STAFF WRITERS

What looked like a done deal to bring back Panthers all-time leading scorer Scott Mellanby now appears to be a dead deal.

Mellanby, an unrestricted free agent, would like to return to South Florida to finish out his career. Negotiations between Panthers General Manager Mike Keenan and agent Steve Mountain were going well and a deal was almost in place -- until Tuesday.

"It's probably dead," a team source said Wednesday. "It's surviving by a hair."

Meanwhile, according to sources, the Panthers will sign Carolina veteran defenseman Sean Hill to a three-year deal today.

Hill, 34, has a powerful shot and tied a career high last season with 13 goals.

According to a team source, the Panthers originally offered Mellanby a contract worth $1.5 million with a chance to earn a second year if he hit certain performance criteria.

However, when Mike Ricci signed a deal last week with Phoenix that would pay him $1.5 million next season, the Panthers felt they were offering Mellanby, 38, too much.

The Panthers dropped their contract offer to $1.2 million. A team source said Mellanby declined, but then asked that upon his retirement he be given a front-office position at a yearly salary of $150,000.

The Panthers pulled their offer off the table but countered with a one-year deal worth $800,000 with a chance for Mellanby to make $400,000 more in bonuses. They then offered him a three-year front-office job at $100,000 a year, the source claims.

An angry Mountain rejected the offer, the team source said.

"We wanted to bring Scott back," the source said. "But we have to be realistic here. We're working under a new [collective bargaining agreement], and Scott was being offered the same $1.5 million, just in a different way.

"It's stupid. He wanted to come to Florida, we wanted him, but we have to pay him what's fair."

When asked if negotiations would continue, Mountain said, "That would be Mike's call. As far as we're concerned, we're not able to make a deal."

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Mellanby has played in St. Louis the past four years, but it appears the Blues are not interested in bringing him back. Mountain said he was concentrating on talks with Florida, but will now begin exploring other options.

Mellanby, who came up late in the 1985-86 season with the Philadelphia Flyers, spent 71/2 seasons with the Panthers from 1993-01. He is the franchise's all-time leader in points (354), goals (157), power-play goals (66) and shots (1,296).

Last year, Mellanby had 14 goals and 17 assists in 68 games for St. Louis.

FLYERS SET FOR OPENER

If there is an NHL season, the Panthers will open their 12th year at home Oct. 14 against Philadelphia.

The 88th regular season is scheduled to begin Oct. 13, but it could be wiped out if players and owners don't agree to a collective bargaining agreement by Sept. 15.

Among the highlights are 17 home games on Friday and Saturday nights, including a 5 p.m. New Year's Eve start against the New York Rangers; six games vs. the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning; new coach Jacques Martin faces his old team, the Ottawa Senators, for the first time at the Office Depot Center on Feb. 16; and the longest road trip the club will face is four games.

The signing reunites Karpovtsev, 34, and Keenan. As a rookie, Karpovtsev played for Keenan on the Rangers team that won the Stanley Cup in 1993-94.

"He is a big man, a powerful man," Keenan said. "He's had some issues with injuries from time to time, but I think that he's a guy that can play against particularly top competitors from other teams. Penalty killing is a strength of his."

The 6-3, 221-pound Karpovtsev, who is entering his 12th year, is known for his shot-blocking abilities, which the Panthers could use. But he's also known for getting injured. Karpovtsev has averaged 53.6 games per season.

He was limited to a total of 27 games last year with Chicago and the New York Islanders because of an ankle injury. After getting traded to the Islanders, the native of Moscow played in three games before leaving the team for personal reasons.

Karpovtsev has played in 590 career games, scoring 34 goals, and 74 playoff games. His best season was in '96-97 for the Rangers, when he had nine goals and 29 assists in 77 games.

VAN RYN TALKS CONTINUE

Center Olli Jokinen will not file for salary arbitration today, according to his agent, Larry Kelly.

The verdict is still out on defenseman Mike Van Ryn, however. The two restricted free agents have until today to file.

"Talks are progressive, but no deal is imminent," said Van Ryn's agent, Pat Morris. "I think Mike really likes it in Florida and I can only anticipate Florida likes Mike. He was their best defenseman last year, in my opinion."

Jokinen led the Panthers in scoring for the second year in a row. He has signed one-year deals the past four years and feels he deserves a long-term contract. The 25-year-old made $2 million last year.

ALEXANDER KARPOVTSEV

Position: Defenseman.

Height: 6-3.

Weight: 221.

Age: 34.

From: Moscow.

Of note: Made NHL debut in 1993-94, winning a Stanley Cup with the Rangers. Has played in 590 games and 74 playoff games; won a gold medal with Russia in the 1993 World Championships.